April 24 2007
Leicester has no Green councillors so far, although it came as close as possible in Castle Ward in 2003, when Bob Ball tied with Labour's Patrick Kitterick, and was prevented from gaining a councillor by the luck of the draw.
Other cities and districts have been luckier. Below are a few samples of what Green councillors can achieve.
In Oxford a tough 7-hour budget meeting led to a compromise budget which included numerous ideas which started out in the Green budget. These included:
- reversing cuts to allotments
- extending burial service to weekends to meet needs of Muslims and Jews
- reversing area committee budget cuts
- new energy officer post and small spending budget.
But all-in-all, the Greens managed to secure 18 out of their 25 budget proposals.
For more details see http://www.greenoxford.com/.
Norwich City Council's spending plans for the next financial year include several measures that the Green Party Councillors have argued for in budget discussions, such as:
- investment in improved recycling facilities
- recruitment of an energy officer to improve energy efficiency in Council buildings – saving taxpayers' money and reducing carbon emissions.
At Lancaster's April Council meeting, Green Councillor Anne Chapman proposed that Lancaster City Council should respond to the Government’s draft climate change bill by urging them to aim to reduce emissions by 90% by 2050 (instead of the 60% reduction proposed, which is less than the UK’s global fair share, and could still result in warming of 2-5 degrees).
This was defeated by all the other parties, but a watered down version of Anne’s motion was passed, so the Council will at least publish its own emissions, and respond to the consultation by urging that aviation and shipping be included in the targets.
See http://www.lancastergreenparty.org.uk/.
In Brighton and Hove, Green City Councillors proposed that 'gas guzzler' 4x4s and other fuel inefficient vehicles in the city should have higher charges for parking permits, while the lowest emission vehicles should park free. The extra revenue would be spent on environmental improvements in the neighbourhoods where the charges were levied.
See http://www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk/.
In Kirklees a scheme initiated by the Green Party to provide free insulation (cavity wall and loft) to over 30,000 homes has been agreed. The £14million scheme will ensure that many households across Kirklees receive around £400 worth of insulation measures free of charge.
The scheme will see £6million of Kirklees funding matched by a similar amount from Scottish Power under their Energy Efficiency Commitment monies. Households benefiting from the scheme will see their fuel bills reduce by an average £150 following installation of the measures at a time of high fuel prices and growing concern about greenhouse gas emissions.
See http://www.kirkleesgreenparty.org.uk/
Promoted by Leicester Green Party at 89a Winchester Avenue, Leicester LE3 1AY